Sunday, Nov 28, 2004
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Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | New Delhi
By Sujay Mehdudia
NEW DELHI, NOV. 27 . Although the Delhi Government has crossed another major milestone by making available information about cutting and restoration of roads on its website, a number of loose ends need to be tied up before this exercise becomes effective. Lack of coordination among various arms of the Government, multiplicity of authority and various agencies working at cross-purposes could turn this well-intentioned move into an exercise in futility. Delhi is the worst example of such instances where road-cutting takes place without the left hand knowing what the right is doing. Lack of coordination among different agencies is so much that even newly laid or repaired roads are dug up immediately after their restoration due to the indifferent attitude of various civic agencies. The situation is further complicated due to lack of any penal clause that could impose any kind of fine on those who dig up roads without permission. Under the new system, the Government has developed software to keep people informed about the road-cutting and restoration work in progress at a particular site on a particular day. Even the position of diversion of traffic is available online which helps the users to choose his route. The system also helps the Government departments in checking whether road-cutting and restoration programmes are being executed by agencies as per the programme intimated by them in advance. The other services providing agencies could use this information and ensure that their service lines and cables do not get disturbed due to the cutting activity. The telephone numbers and address of the contact persons of road-cutting agency as well as road owning agency would be available on the website. Initially, the website would provide information about the PWD roads and further this would be extended to MCD roads. However, many within and outside the Government are of the view that such a project would only take off and become effective if it is backed by proper coordination. Past experiences have shown that a number of agencies dig up roads for various purposes and in some cases without seeking permission from the department concerned. Even within the Government departments, it has been observed that roads are often cut or dug up even when they have been laid only recently. "There are glaring instances where departments were told to complete whatever pending work on a particular road as it was being re-laid or repaired. But as soon as the road was done up, within a few days it was dug up to lay a cable or a water pipeline which makes a mockery of the whole exercise,'' a senior official remarked. Also, it was felt that in view of the "digital gap'' prevailing in the Capital, not many people would have access to internet or computers and it would be better if the road digging or repair information is provided to the Residents' Welfare Associations (RWAs) in advance and also seek their advice on the issue. Similarly, another method that is rarely followed could include putting up of boards informing about the road laying or repair project, its cost, date for commencement and also completion date. This methodology could also be taken up for big and small infrastructure projects in the Capital that often face delays. "Such a move would put public as well as moral pressure on the executing agencies to complete the project within the given timeframe, '' another official stated.
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